Two convicted for Bollywood starlet's murder in 2012
Nearly seven years after the brutal murder of aspiring actress Meenakshi Thapa, a sessions court on Wednesday convicted junior artists Amit Jaiswal and Preeti Surin under charges of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping for ransom, tampering with the evidence and murder. The court has also convicted the duo under some provisions of the Information and Technology (IT) Act.
Thapa, who worked in some Bollywood films, had met Jaiswal and Surin on the sets of the film ‘Heroine’, in which she had shared the screen with actress Kareena Kapoor Khan. Since then, Thapa developed a good bond with the duo.
According to the prosecution case, Thapa had told both the accused that she hails from one of the wealthiest families in Nepal. She had told them that despite too much of wealth, she acts in films as it was her hobby.
The prosecution claimed that it was because of Thapa’s claims, Jaiswal and Surin kidnapped and took her to Gorakhpur, Allahabad, their hometown. From there, they called Thapa’s parents and sought ransom of Rs 15 lakh. However, her parents could only manage to arrange Rs 60,000.
This fact, according to the prosecution, did not go down well with the accused and they decided to kill her. Accordingly, Thapa was beheaded and her severed body was disposed in a water tank in Allahabad, while her head was thrown out of a moving bus.
The prosecution in this case was represented by advocate Ujjwal Nikam.
The court is likely to pronounce the quantum of punishment fot Jaiswal and Surin on Thursday.